Body for motor-cars and other motor and railway vehicles



E. w. EDWARDS. BODY FOR MOTORCARS AND OTHER MOTOR AND RAILWAY VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE P0, 1920- 1,396,737.

Pdtented NOV. 15, 1921'.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. w. EDWARDS. BODY IOR MOTOR CARS AND OTHER MOTOR AND RAILWAY VE HICLES.

I APPLIIEATION' FILED JUNE 10. I 920- Patented Nov. 15, 1921.. v 4 SHEETS'SHEET 24 E. W. EDWARDS. BODY FOR MOTOR CARS AND OTHER MOTOR AND RAILWAY VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1920.

4 swans-aunt a.

, mm@ W E. w. EDWARDS. BODY FOR MOTOR CARS AND OTHER'MOIOR AND RAILWAY VEHI CLES.

' Arms/know FILED :un: 10. 1920.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

(.I I I I I I I I l a ll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nmms'r WILLIAM Enwiuins, or CARSHALTOIN', ENGLAND.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Application filed June 10, 1920. Serial No. 388,007.

\ To all whom it may camera: Be it known'that-I, ERNEST WILLIAM Ep- \VARDS, a subject of the King of Great Brltain, residing at Mos'sley, Denmark Road, (arshaltom in thecounty of Surrey, En?!- land, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bodies for Motor-Carsand other Motor andRailway Vehicles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description( k v The object of the present invention is to construct an improved body for a motor car or other vehicle which is rigid, light and strong, which is readily manufactured in large quantities, which afiords special facilities for'repai rs in case of accident and which is, apart from the upholstery, fireproof.

According to the present invention the Li body of the car or other vehicle is composed. of sections each of which generally speaking has four tubes. In some cases ad-.

have one tube common to both oi uem.

The s of motor vehicles usually slope inward. oward the lower part, the sides of the-cowl usually slope toward each other at the front and the rear of the body is usually curved in plan. All such features can be readiiiy obtained, by va ing the shapes of the sections. Many -o the sections are roughly rectangular in side elevation but others especially those forming the-rear of the body are considerably ,wider at the up per part than at the lower part. y

The tubes are, formed into sections, by means of externally or internally fitting lugs whiclrare preferably stamped up from blanks cut out of sheet metal. Such lugs mot only'connect the ends of adj acenttubes or connect the end of one tube to another tube intermediate of its ends but they are in most cases :iiurnued as clamps. For this purpiiseeach' lugiiujiormed integral with ears or small plhteszwhich are riveted together thus retaining the "lugyin correct shape to closely encircle part of a tube. These ears or small plates also serve as means for attaching struts or stayrods to the lugs.

hen employing internally fitting lugs they are also provided with cars or other means for the attachment of struts or stay rods.

The stay rods are. preferably screw threaded at their ends to receive short fittings hi h are forked at their ends to fit on both sides of the ears or plates or some of them which have been riveted together. The fittings may be screwed more or less on to the stay rods so that these latter are m tension when riveted or bolted to the ears or plates. Lock nuts are preferably pro vided to fix the fittings on the stay rods. The stay rods connect opposite angles of each section and hold the lugs securely .on

or in the ends of the tubes thus forming a rigid structure.

The metal panels are bent at their edges to fit partly around the tubes and are scoured thereto by means of pins. ,In the case of an accident such pins having but small heads can be readily removed thus releasing the panel after t =ich it is only necessary to detach'the two s ...y rods each at one end to enable the whole section to be taken to pieces as the lugs can be withdrawn from the tubes or viceyersa. .The tubes, panel or lugs can then be bent to their original shapes or they can be replaced by new parts without disturbing the rest of the body. All the parts being made by machinery can be easily replaced at small cost.

Some of the lugs are made of two or more,

vertical members connected at their upper ends the one by a curved portion and the other by curvedends and a straight central part. hese two tubes are fixed to the bot' tom tube of the body by suitable lugsand they are connected at or about the tops of the vertical portions of the tubes by other tubes which slope preferably converge to ward the front of the cowl.

The seat supports are formed as separate sections si'inil ail'to those already described and are coiiiiectedto the sides of the body by three way lugs or double lugs with pro j'ections. I y

The doors'iarc likewise made as separate sections.

-.; h a 9 i w r' f rme at plates are supported by the lower tube ortubes ofthe body and are fixed thereto in any suitable manner. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the body of a motor car and F 2 is a side elevation of the. same.

In'these viewsthe lugs are omitted and the stay rods, the wheels, chassis, bonnet. and

radiator are indicated in brokenlines.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4.is a- .front elevation of the cowl. I

'Fig. 5 is a side elevation and Fig. dis a front elevation of the front seat support.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the body of the door and Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the same;

Figs. 9 and 10'ar'e' a side elevation and a front elevation of a lugfor connecting one tube intermediate'of the ends of a second tube in the same plane.

Figs. 11 and 12 are a side-elevation and 'a front elevation of. a lug for connecting the corners of one section.

Figs. 13 and 14 are a side elevation and a front elevation of a lug for connecting the ends of two tubes in one plane with another tube or tubes at an angle to said plane.

Figs.'15 and 16 are a side elevation and a front elevation of a lug for connecting the" end of a tube at an angle to a vertical tube and intermediate ofits ends.

Figs. 17 and 18 are a side elevation and a front elevation of a lug for 'receiving the end of a vertical tube and winning it in position on a horizontal tube.

Figs. 19 and 20 are a side ation and a front elevation of a lug for connecting two tubes in a horizontal plane with an uprising tube at an angle to the vertical.

Figs. 21 and22 are a side elevation and a 'front elevation ota lug somewhat similar-to that shown in Figs. 9 and 10 but provided with an extra ear enabling it tobe stayed in different planes at right angles to each other.

The lugs shown in Figs. 9 to 22 are all stamped up from one or more pieces of sheet metal.

Figs. 23 and Qla're a side elevation and a front elevation of a lug for connecting intermediate of its ends a horizontal upper tube with the upper end of a lower vertical tube. This lug is made by milling or stamping part of a tube which is circular in cross section.

' Fig. is a side elevation of some floor plates and Fig. 26 is. a plan of the same. Fig. 27 isa cross section on the line 27-27 of Fig. 25 to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 28 is a section of an internally .fitting lug, and of two tubes connected thereby.

Fig. 29 is a-section showing another form 14 being doors.

of internally fitting. lugs and of two tubes connected thereby.

s seen inFig. 2 the side of the body including the doors and the cowl is formed of 4 five sections marked 1, 2,13, 4. and 5 and the rear of the body as shown in F i 2 is formed of three sections two of which. are marked 6 and one 7. The sections 2, 3, and 4: are rectangular in side elevation, sections 2 and Section 1 whichis the side of the cowl is not quite rectangular as it has a downwardly sloping top tube and section 5 is not rectangular as it has a curved lower tube but this latter joins. the rear vertical member at a right-angle and joins the front vertical member at an angle slightly less than a right angle.

At the rear of the bodythe central section 7 is rectangular as seen from the rear ahd sections 6, 6 are of irregular shape the front and rear members converging toward the lower part of the section. the lower member e'ing horizontal and the upper member curving upward toward the rear. This section however consists of four tubes connected by detachable lugs at the corners and connecteddiagonally by transverse struts or stay rods like the sectionsplllich are truly rectangular in elevation.

i The body has a single lower tube (Z which passes along each side and around the back and is common to all the sections. The two side members of the tube (a are connected laterally by cross tubes a l The cowl consists of a front tube having approximately vertical members I) 7) connected at their upper parts by a curved part if. a rear tube having approximately vertical mcnibers 0 connected by curved ends to a straight part 0 two inclined tubes (5 (I and parts of the lower tube a.

'The tubes (1. and b are connected by va lug similar to that shown in Figs. ll-and 12. The tubes (1. and care connected by :1 lug siinilar to thatshown in Figs. 17 and 18. The' tubesb and (Z are connected by a lug similar to that shown in Figs. 15 and 16 but turned upside down and the tubes and (I are connected by :1 lug similar to that shown in Figs. 15 and 16.

These lugs have tubular parts e which are split and connected by means of cars which are riveted togetli'c r at e and thus accurately fit or tightly grip the tubes. Tot-hose cars ate are bolted or riveted the forked fittings 7' which are threaded in their interior and are screwed onto the ends of the stay rods f The lug shown in Figs. 17 and 18 has only one tubular part c which carries projections 1 by which itis pinnedonto the lower tube a. A fitting 7 is shown more clearly in Fig. 11 connecting the lug to a stay rod which latter is provided. with a. lock, nut f he doors each consist-a's sl1ovtninore clearly in Figs. 7 and 8, cl: tour tubes 9 con nectedby lugssuch us shown in Figs. l1 and 12 and these latter are connected diagonally by stay rods f. The door is shown covered with a metal panel it which is bent at its lugs to the lower tube a and said lugs are connected diagonally by stay rods f An additionnl vertical tube is provided at each side which is connected by lugs to the upper member 5 and to the lower member (a.

This tube t and the trouttube support seat tubes which form rectangular sections, the opposite lugs of which are connected by diagonal stay rods such as The tube i also supports a horizontal tube t" to which latter are connected back tubes 6 by suitable lugs. A curved tube i is fixed at its ends to the upper members i and is 'conncctcd intermediate of its ends by suitable lugs to the tops of the back tubes 71. The tubes i i, 6?, form a rectangular sec tion the lugs of which are connected dingo nally' by stay rods 1 as shown in Fig. 6.-

Section 5 is composed. of: verticnl tubes y, 7'

a top tube j and the mainlower tube a.

These are connected by lugs and cross stnys.

f. The tubes j, aare connected in a similar manner to the tubes e7 and o'forming part of section tl. In section 5 the seat tubes are marked and are are supported by in gs such as shown in l3 and M from the tubes 7" j.

Section 6 is composed of the top tube 5' thevertical tube j the inclined tube In and the mm bottom tube a. It will benoticed that one tube j is common to sections 5 and 6 and that the tube j primes along the tops of sections 5 and 6..

Section 7 is composed of the top tube 7' the inclined tubes In and the bottom tube 0!- all connected by lugs which latter are connected by cross stays 7. This section is located in the same inclined plane as the tubes I I0 and onlyits cdge formed by a tube in can be seen 111F1g. The tube j" 1:5 common to two sections liQtwo sections 6, and the scction 7.

The two curved tubes 1. I connected to the 'top tube i and bottom tube a. do not form a section oi? the body but are merely employed to carry the curved panel at the rear of the can, In some forms of bodies these tubes Z, I would be less curved and if desired they may be omitted and the back panel may be carried by section 7. t

.be readily pinned to square tubes.

The floor of the body as shown in Figs. 25, 26 and 27 is formed of separate metal sheets or plates it having strengthening flanges or ribs m The ends of these plates n as shown are supported by square tubes n which latter are provided with clamps it? passing partly around the opposite members of the bottom tube ct. Instead of tubes 11? angle irons may be employed. The plates '21, the

tubes n or angle irons and the clumps of may all be connected by screws a and the jaws of each clamp a may be pinned or riveted to the bottom tube; a: as seen in Fig. 27.

It will be understood that some or all of the tubes forming the body may be of square section as the split lugs and other lugs shown may be readily made to fit square tubes. The split lugs will grip square tubes and those lugs which have projections may The two side members of the tube a. and

y the cross tubes 0, form rectangular sections the lugs of which are connected diagonally by stay rods f as in the other sections shown. 4

The top tube 7' which is above described as common to the two side sections 5, 5, the two back sections 6, and the back section 7 made in separate parts connected by lugs at the tops of the tubes i and Is.

The bottom tube a may also be made in separate parts connected by lugs at the'junctions with the vertical and inclined tubes.

The lugs shown in Figs. 3 to 24: are all externally fitting lugs. In place of such lugs, or some of them clasping the tubes and held in position by cross rods I may employ internally fitting lugs entering the tubes and also held in position and secured by the cross rods above described.

Such an internally fitting lug is shown in Fig. 28. It is somewhat similar to the lug shown in Figs. 11 and 12 but has extensions E beyond the ears e These extensions E are adapted to enter and fit the ends-of tubes g. In order that the tubes 9 may be better tube 9 is preferably split for a short distance from its end at 9 .30 that it may pass over the cars 0 The tubes g are also preferably cut oil at an angle of 45 so that their ends abut and provide a better seating for a metal panel.

The lug shown in. Fig. 29 is exuctlylike that shown in Figs. 11 and 12 but is provided with two liners which project at E beyond thelug and enter the-ends of tubes 9. In this construction the tubes g abut against the ends of the lug c. This construction provides a neat finish for the corner of a sec ing panel.

The lugs shown in. Figs. 28 and 29 are pro tion and a good seating for the'metal cov'ervided with ears e to which. cross rods 7 are connected as described Withrespecttoother v figures.

It Will be obvious that some of the other connecting lugs or fittings may in like manner be formed to enter the tubes instead of clasp'ing them. 7

It will be understood that the drawings merely show the invention applied to one formof open motor car body and that other forms of open bodies and closed bodies for motor cars'may be constructed in sections upon the same principle.

' It will also be understood that the bodies of railway and other vehicles may be'constructed according to the present invention. What I claim as my invention is 2- 1. A body'for motor and other vehicles made in sections, each section having tubes, lugs by which the adjacent ends of the tubes are connected, stay rods in tension by which the lugs are held in position with respect to.

the tubes, metal panels attached to the sections by bending them around the tubes and pins bywhich the panels are fixed to the tubes, substantially as set forth. 2. A .body for motor and. other vehicles made in sections, each section having tubes,

lugs by which the adjacent ends of the tubes are connected, stay rods in tension by which the lugs are held in position with respect to the tubes,'metal panels attached to the sections by bending them around the tubes, pins by which the panels are fixed to the tubes, metal plates forming the floor, tubular rigid members supporting the ends of the said metal plates and clamps fixed to said tubular rigid members, the jaws of said clamps be ing pinned to the lower tubes of the sections of the body, substantially as set forth.

3. A body for motor or other vehicles made in side sections comprising the side of the cowl, the doors and the sides of the body, transverse sections and other sections forming supports for the seats, each section having tubes, lugs by which the adjacent ends of the tubes are connected, stay rods in tension by which the lugs are held in position with respect to the tubes, metal panels attached to the side and rear sections by bending them around the tubes and pins by which the panels are fixed to the tubes, substantially as set forth.

In wi'tness whereof I have set my hand.

ERNEST WILLIAM EDWARDS. 

